Juan Pablo Montoya is back up to speed for the Indianapolis 500

Juan Pablo Montoya talks to his crewman before going out to take practice laps on Sunday, May 11th, 2014 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Kristin Enzor / For The Star(Photo: JEFF FOOTT)

Juan Pablo Montoya recalled needing three practice laps to get up to speed in a memorable 2000 debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Fourteen years later, it didn't take him long to get back on track.

The 38-year-old Colombian ran the second-fastest lap on opening day in a Team Penske 1-2-3 sweep with Will Power and Helio Castroneves, and Montoya's No. 2 Chevrolet-powered car ranked fifth on the speed chart Monday with a lap of 223.395 mph.

"You saw the same situation in 2000," said Team Penske President Tim Cindric. "I guess, no, it's not surprising. It's impressive."

"Yeah, it took about that many (laps)," Montoya said. "It was fine. We changed it a little bit from (how) they ran (the car) last year."

It's what many expect from the talented driver, who conquered Indy for Chip Ganassi by leading 167 of 200 laps in his 2000 triumph.

His quest for a challenge took him to Formula One, where he won seven races and had 30 podiums in seven years. Montoya held his own at times in NASCAR with two victories and 24 top-five runs in eight years, but it wasn't the same results as in open wheel.

So the 1999 CART champion is back, but this time with legendary car owner Roger Penske, who has won a record 15 Indy 500s.

"If I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't be doing it," Montoya said. "I love working for Roger. This guy has been a huge pleasure. It's unbelievable. It's a hell of an experience."

Unlike 14 years ago, Montoya has learned the cars are basically bunched in terms of capability based on universal specifications. And he still must familiarize himself with the other drivers on track.

Andretti Autosport's Ryan Hunter-Reay set the pace Monday with a lap of 225.025 mph. He was working in traffic with teammate Marco Andretti, who ranked second at 224.037 mph. Castroneves was third at 223.635 mph and Dale Coyne Racing's Justin Wilson fourth at 223.611 mph.

Mayor Greg Ballard held a press conference at Speedway on Monday to talk out his small tissue injuries sustained from debris from the crash at the start of the Grand Prix on Saturday.

"The cars are a lot closer together," Montoya said. "They're so limited in what you can do as a team. It's not that we can develop the car more than other people, so that makes it real tight. I feel like we got good speed and I was pretty happy with the car. Now we've just got to work on it a little more.

"I feel like I'm starting to get the timing right to pass people. And the more you do it, the easier it comes."

But there were still some anxious moments. Montoya said he was at speed when a much-slower Simon Pagenaud, winner of Saturday's Grand Prix of Indianapolis, entered the groove.

"I had to jump the brakes," Montoya said. "I'm like, 'Really?' And he's one that (complains) the most. You don't know if it was him or the spotter didn't say anything."

So there is some adjustment.

"A lot of it is, it's more important to figure out the things you shouldn't do than the things you've got to do," he said. "The things you shouldn't do are the things that are going to cost you."

Cindric said there's no mistaking Montoya is back at IMS to win and it's up to Team Penske to give him the car and crew to do it. Montoya doesn't prefer to separate the two. It's about a unified effort.

"We get our wins together and we lose together. I'm going to screw up some of them. They can, too," said Montoya, who finished 16th in Saturday's Grand Prix. "I thought we had an awesome car for the Grand Prix. I was quick all day.

Sage Karam is shaded by an umbrella while waiting to go out on the track during the second day of practice for the Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Monday, May 12, 2014, in Indianapolis.
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Townsend Bell lowers his visor as he prepares to go onto the track during the second day of practice for the Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Monday, May 12, 2014, in Indianapolis.
Brent Drinkut/The Star

Sebastien Bourdais talks to his crew after coming back into his pit during the second day of practice for the Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Monday, May 12, 2014, in Indianapolis.
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Sebastien Bourdais, left, and Sebastian Saavedra, right, speak after Bourdais time on the track during the second day of practice for the Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Monday, May 12, 2014, in Indianapolis.
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Graham Rahal has his car looked at by his crew in the pits during the second day of practice for the Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Monday, May 12, 2014, in Indianapolis.
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Jack Hawksworth sits in his tarp covered car as a light rain falls onto pit lane during the second day of practice for the Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Monday, May 12, 2014, in Indianapolis.
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Helio Castroneves signs autographs for fans on his way back to the garage during the second day of practice for the Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Monday, May 12, 2014, in Indianapolis.
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Indycar driver Simon hand out autographs to Mike Pyle and his kids Preston 3 and Mallory age 8 during a visit the the suites before practice for the 2014 Indy 500 , Monday, May 12, 2014 at The Indianapolis Motor Speedway,
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